Public spaces as a palimpsest of city layers: The case of Baharestan Square in Tehran (Iran)

This paper intends to underline the importance of historic public spaces as deposits collective memories, proposing critical analysis, reinterpretation, and systematization relevant informative historical layers a counter model globalizing tendencies their fast pace transformation. Baharestanis square located in northeast Tehran?s Historic Center, it is home Iran?s Parliament Ministry Culture. It makes significant at national level, especially due its location surrounded by several exquiste heritage buildings. However, following decline center, Baharestan lost socio-cultural vitality spatial quality, hosting urban functions mainly heterogeneous identity, eventually turning into traffic node. Through comparative study numerous documents, adapting concept ?palimpsest?, Square has been interpreted assemblage different city relation environmental socio-political narratives city. The shift from one layer another reflect some memories Tehran identity transition traditional modern society. Later on, argues how this palimpsest quality co-evolution those plural demonstrate symbolic ?catalytic social infrastructure?, giving an opportunity overcome challenge ?social amnesia? promoting civic culture cohesion.